How do you know when it's dormant?

[Paul Mc]

This may be a stupid question, but I'm truly unsure how you know when an orchid which needs to go dormant does so.

Specifically in question is my Sedirea japonica.

My game plan thus far as been to leave it in a sheltered position (from frosts and rain) outside until the temperature at night is in danger of freezing or averages go below 37F.

But will there be any signs that it has gone dormant?

Also, when I bring it into the basement which hovers around 50 to 60F will this bring it back out of it's dormant state?

Sorry, this is my first orchid that requires going dormant to survive, so I'm unsure what my next move(s) should be.

[Merlyn]

Ask me in a couple of years since mine's at the 5 & 1/2 year stage without EVER going dormant, is healthy as a horse (won a CCM/AOS), has more than 4 basal keikis, and is supposed, by others here, to die at 5 to 6 years without dormancy !

I have yet to see anyone post a point of reference to dormancy for this species. Reduce water and temperature during winter is all I've read. HTH !

[quiltergal]

I agree. Mine has never gone dormant in the 5 years I've had it and it blooms like a champ every spring.

[camille1585]

@ Chryss and Terri:
Dormancy in Sedirea is not for blooming (as you state they bloom fine without it) but apparently the plants are longer lived when allowed to have dormancy like they would have in their native range. These can bloom themselves to death without it, if I am to believe what is on internet and in the Bakker sheets in Orchidwiz. They admit that it is not known if strict dormancy is really necessary.

Paul, I don't think that letting it get near freezing is necessary, that might be pushing it a bit. I don't know if I had sent you the orchidwiz info, but they say that in habitat the night average is around 40F for 2-3 months in the winter, but in cultivation it doesn't need to be so severe or so long. So I would assume that it'll be fine in the basement.

Since mine didn't bloom at all this year, I'm just leaving it with the other orchids on it's bright and warm shelf.

[Paul Mc]

Thank you Camille and everyone else for the thoughts and information. I would definately be interested to hear what your results are after a few years without the dormant period that the Baker's describe. Perhaps this data is a bit old and newer cultivation methods have made it possible to not let this one go dormant for it's bloom cycle.

Yeah, I was thinking that near freezing may be pushing it so I have a chart going to monitor the average temperature ranges in various ranges (3-day, 1-week and 2-week intervals - I'm a nerd and I admit it, lol...). Thus far it hasn't been below 39F as an average, but I doubt I will be able to hold out much longer as the night temps are falling lower more often than not.

I think it may be time to bring it into the basement... I'm actually very sad to know that winter is almost here and plants are dying back for the year. Oh well, at least my windowsills are filled with blooming orchids!!!

[camille1585]

In the Bakker sheets they clearly state that this comes from observations from someone back in 1995. I think a good person to ask about this would be Dr. Glenn Lehr over at New World Orchids. I think I'll send him an email, since I'm also very curious about this issue.